End of the 2012 Legislative Session: Successes and Failures

Posted Thursday, May 31, 2012, at 11:49 AM

As I mentioned in my most recent column, the Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly has come and gone. Here are some of the measures that the Legislature sent to the governor, some we did not, and some the governor said "no" to.

PASSED:

BUDGET -- Missouri's balanced $24 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2013, which will begin on July 1, 2012. Maintains level funding for Missouri's elementary and secondary schools, increases funding for higher education, and makes no changes to aid to the blind as previously proposed. (HB 2001-2013)

CELLPHONES -- Changes the laws regarding the state's No-Call List by allowing a person to place his or her cell phone number on the list and prohibiting telemarketers from sending specified communications. (HB 1549)

CHARTER SCHOOLS -- Modifies provisions relating to charter schools including additional accountability and also expansion into failing districts throughout the state or accredited districts when sponsored by the local school board. (SB 576 - Stouffer)

TRANSPORTATION -- Modifies law with respect to motor vehicles and outboard motor titles. Includes exclusion of University of Kansas from having specialty Missouri license plates. (SB 480 - Stouffer)

MOTOR CARRIERS -- Changes the laws regarding motor carriers and the transportation of household goods and requires a municipality to allow commercial vehicles access to any road in the state highway system. (HB 1402 - Stouffer)

REDISTRICTING -- Requires all meetings of apportionment commissions to be conducted in public and prohibits commission members from serving in the General Assembly for six years after service on commission. (SJR 37)

WORKPLACE REFORMS -- Eases Missouri businesses' ability to hire and fire employees. The legislation was one of the two top priorities of the General Assembly to help Missouri employers return more jobs to the state, but the legislation was opposed by trial lawyers and labor unions. Vetoed by the governor. (HB 1219)

The Legislature will be back in Jefferson City for its annual veto session, scheduled for September. Until then, we will see you at all of the fairs and festivals that are coming up. I look forward to visiting with you.

Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, represented the 21st district in the Missouri Senate until January 2013, when he left after reaching established term limits. He is a life-long resident of Saline County, a farmer and small business owner. He and his wife, Sue Ellen, live on their family farm in Napton. He was the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight. He served on a number of other committees, including Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources; Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & the Environment; Financial & Governmental Organizations & Elections; Joint Interim Committee on School Accreditation; Missouri Alternative Fuels Commission; Missouri Civil Air Patrol; Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission; Missouri Senior RX Commission; Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force; Coordinating Council on Special Transportation; and Midwestern Interstate passage Rail Compact Commission.